Iran has reportedly deployed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers and missile- and drone-related equipment to Yemen to strengthen the capabilities of the Houthi movement, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Four sources familiar with the matter, including two Iranian sources, Yemen’s information minister and a regional security analyst, said the personnel and equipment were transferred on a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13.
The sources said between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were aboard the aircraft, which was originally scheduled to land in the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa but was diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after Sanaa airport came under attack by Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.
One source said the IRGC commanders travelled to Yemen to support Houthi military operations and provide training on new missile systems. The sources also alleged that Iran sent financial support, including gold, to assist Houthi activities.
Iran has repeatedly denied providing the Houthis with missile capabilities or military assistance, while a Houthi media official who said he was on the flight rejected the allegations as “lies and fabrications,” insisting that all passengers were civilians.
Growing Threat to Red Sea Shipping
The reported deployment comes amid rising tensions in the region and increased concerns over threats to international maritime routes.
According to Reuters, three days after the flight arrived, Iran reportedly urged the Houthis to prepare for possible action against the Red Sea oil route if the United States targeted Iranian infrastructure.
The Houthis later announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia following a July 13 strike on Sanaa airport, which they blamed on Riyadh. The group subsequently claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers.
Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani said intelligence indicated that the IRGC personnel and equipment were intended to enhance Houthi military capabilities and prepare the group to threaten international shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
Missile and Drone Components Allegedly Transferred
Security analyst Mzahem Alsaloum, who has monitored Iranian-backed armed groups, said IRGC experts arrived on the July 13 flight and that the cargo included components for short- and medium-range missiles and drones.
He said the equipment was similar to weapons previously used in attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The Houthis, who have fought Yemen’s internationally recognized government for more than a decade, deny being an Iranian proxy and maintain that they independently develop their weapons systems.
Iran Rejects Allegations
Iranian Foreign Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment on the allegations. Tehran has consistently rejected accusations that it supplies the Houthis with advanced weapons.
Iranian officials said the July 13 flight was part of arrangements to return Houthi representatives and Yemeni citizens who had travelled to Tehran for the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The latest allegations come as regional tensions continue to rise, with concerns growing over the security of one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes linking the Red Sea with the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
